The developer and owner of the buildings that formerly housed the Bailey school and Harmony House domestic violence shelter is asking Springfield City Council to blight the properties.

Jason Murray, of Springfield Loft Apartments, wants to transform both center city properties into red-brick lofts with on-site parking, surrounded by green space.

Citing age, deteriorating infrastructure and health issues like asbestos or mold, Murray is asking for partial property tax abatement for both projects for 25 years.

Many City Council members expressed approval of Murray's blight requests and redevelopment plans at Monday night's meeting.

Councilman Craig Hosmer, who has been critical in the past of how the city uses redevelopment incentives, spoke in favor of the Bailey school building project.

"I think this is the right way we should use abatement because you're taking a building that would not be put back into service otherwise. S omebody else would have bought this and, I think, torn it down. And we would have lost a structure that has served Springfield for a long time," Hosmer said.

In both proposals, Murray is requesting for 100 percent property tax abatement on improvements to assessed value for 10 years, then 50 percent abatement for the remaining 15 years.

Bailey School redevelopment

Bailey school was constructed in 1931 and has been used as an elementary school, warehouse and alternative school before it was closed in 2013.

Murray estimated it will cost $2.5 million to renovate the former schoolhouse into a 25-unit apartment building.

The school building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Murray said the project will be partially financed with state and federal historic preservation tax credits.

Murray said he wants to demolish two of three structures on the property to make room for a parking lot and green space. In phase one, the oldest of the three buildings, Murray said, will be renovated into a 16-unit apartment building.

Eventually, Murray said, for phase two, he plans to construct 24 to 26-unit apartment buildings on the site of the demolished buildings.

Kerner said the Beverly Lofts property also does not currently provide property tax for the city because it was previously owned by a nonprofit.

Kerner described blight conditions at each of the three structures on the property, including, among other things, missing portions of the floor and ceiling, exposed wiring and the presence of asbestos.

For phase one, taxing jurisdictions could collect $44,435 of additional property tax revenue over the next 25 years if the redevelopment occurs, Kerner said.

Murray told the News-Leader he hopes Beverly Lofts can serve as housing for professors or graduate students.

"It's not much to look at today, but once we get to renovating it, it will be beautiful," Murray said.

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority and city staff recommend blight designation for both the Bailey school building and Beverly Lofts.

Council is expected to vote on the proposals in two weeks.

Bailey School

Covers nearly two acres located at 501 W. Central Street.

Projected rent will cost between $525 and $1,100 a month, depending on the size of the unit, which range between one bedroom, one bath and three bedroom, two bath.

Grounds will feature a greenhouse, urban gardening beds, a dog park, a gazebo with a barbecue grill, according to Murray.

Beverly Lofts

Covers 0.68 acres of property at the corner of Cherry Street and Kimbrough Avenue.

Projected rent will be $900 a month for two-bedroom, two-bath apartments.

Estimated completion date: March 2018 for phase one, March 2020 for phase two.